Whats A Night, What A Show! Latin Beats Sonidos De Las Americas Concert

Article & Photos by Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media

It was a night filled with the energy of the music, dance and pageantry of Latin America. The Colorado Symphony Orchestra with conductor Andres Lopera of Colombia along with Dianna Gameros, Jeff Nevin, Conjunto Colores, Mariachi Sol de Mi Tierra, Mariachi Correcamionos and the Fiesta Colorado Dance Company put on a spectacular show Thursday night September 28th at the Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The performance was free for everyone.

Music from Brazil, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico and other Latin American countries filled the air while Mexican folkloric and salsa dancers filled the stage. “There must be a hundred performers up there” said one member as the audience.

In a unique collaboration the Conjunto Colores salsa band joined the symphony for a couple of numbers that had the audience wanting to kick up their heels and start dancing. The eloquent fashions of Noberto Mojardin also added a special touch to the evening festivities. Dianna Gameros dedicated the song “En Juarez” to the 43 missing students in Mexico and to all the parents whose children have been the victims of police abuse.

It seemed like nobody wanted to leave as the crowd mingled after the performance taking photos, meeting old friends and making new ones. The ushers were literally pushing people trying to get them to leave. We all finally did shuffling over to the La Rumba night club for an after party featuring a special performance by Orqesta La Brava.

Latin Beats, Sonidos de las Americas was presented by the Mexican Cultural Center, Marcela de la Mar. The center is a non-profit organization established in 1992 whose mission is to promote the Mexican culture in the state of Colorado.

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